Sylhet monkeys' quest for food continues
Monkeys from a shrine in Ambarkhana area of Sylhet city continue to intrude into nearby houses in their quest for food.
Annoyed by “monkey menace” residents have organised different programmes demanding the primates are sent to reserved forests.
The newspaper also published a report on the issue titled “Save the Sylhet monkeys” on January 21.
On Wednesday, the divisional forest officer along with others visited the area to asses the situation.
Since locals use trees and plants as firewood, the number of tress have declined significantly in recent years. Also, the primates rely on fruits, which have become scarce near the forests, according to Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, Sylhet chapter.
The monkeys lost their habitat due to unplanned urbanisation and the food crisis began, it added.
Locals said they did not want to have the monkeys culled. They want the Sylhet City Corporation to take necessary steps to save them from the nuisance.
They said Chashni Pir was an aide to Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA) and had pet monkeys, which eventually multiplied and the shrine became famous.
“We have visited the spot and will send a proposal to the higher authorities soon for saving the monkeys," said RFM Monirul Islam, divisional forest officer of the Sylhet Forest Division.
He said they have no government allocation for feeding the monkeys. “It's not in their nature to disturb people, monkeys bother people only when people bother them,” he claimed.
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